京都の読み解き方 秦氏と平安京Hata Clan's Hidden Role in Kyoto's Birth
Some articles have been written about Kyoto, but starting with this one, I aim to open a gateway to deeper understanding, allowing you to experience Japan’s premier tourist destination on a level beyond ordinary travelers. This is essentially about reading Kyoto in ways that aren’t covered in guidebooks.
The Japanese word “Kyoto” (京都) literally means “capital city,” originating from the presence of the imperial residence (now the Kyoto Imperial Palace). Historically, any city housing an imperial residence was referred to as a “Kyo” (京), making the contemporary name “Kyoto” somewhat peculiar. Reflecting on this helps in understanding Tokyo as well. During the Meiji period, when political maneuvering forced the emperor to relocate from Kyoto to Edo, the new government was reluctant to continue using “Edo,” which symbolized the Tokugawa shogunate. Therefore, under the pretext of welcoming the emperor, they renamed the city “Tokyo” (東京), meaning “Eastern Capital.” Thus, Tokyo was temporarily branded as the “Imperial Capital” (帝都, Teito) during the pre-war era, differentiating it from Kyoto in a strategic move by the new government.
The turning point marking the beginning of Kyoto’s history was in the year 794, when, for the first time, the imperial residence and political center were moved into the Kyoto Basin. Such relocations, historically referred to as “sengu” (遷宮, relocation of an imperial palace) or “sento” (遷都, relocation of the capital), were not mere administrative moves but deeply tied to the beliefs of the era’s people. Grasping this concept is fundamental yet challenging, as from a modern perspective, these reasons seem both unscientific and heavily influenced by magical thinking. Nevertheless, this is precisely where one finds the frontline of understanding Heian-kyo (平安京).
Regarding the history of relocations, references are typically drawn from the Nihon Shoki (日本書紀, 720) rather than the Kojiki (古事記, 712). However, due to historical name changes and other factors, not all previous relocation sites have been definitively identified, with many locations still subject to conjecture or folklore. Before the establishment of Heian-kyo in present-day Kyoto, relocations were centered around Nara and occasionally extended to Osaka, southern Shiga, and southern Kyoto, never previously venturing into what is now central Kyoto City. The Kyoto Basin appears expansive and agriculturally suitable, comparable to the Nara Basin. So why didn’t ancient populations settle there earlier?
The first reason is the existence of Ogura Pond (巨椋池, Oguraike), a vast lake south of the ancient Kyoto Basin, which created marsh-like conditions over a wide area. While present-day Kyoto’s central and eastern regions, south of the Imperial Palace, were inhabitable since ancient times, the western part was predominantly marshland, unsuitable for habitation. Given the prevailing rice cultivation practices in Western Japan at that time, such marshlands posed significant obstacles to settlement and remained largely untouched. However, a dramatic change eventually occurred on Kyoto’s western side, directly leading to the birth of modern Kyoto: the influx of a new clan.
This new group came from across the sea, bringing advanced continental techniques in civil engineering such as flood control and irrigation, silk farming, weaving, iron tools for agriculture and warfare, and even medical practices. Around the late 4th to early 5th century, this group entered northern Kyushu via the Korean Peninsula and swiftly spread eastward across Japan. Eventually known as the “Hata clan” (秦氏, Hata-shi), they reached what is now Kyoto. The first stronghold established by the Hata clan was the Matsuo Shrine (松尾大社), located in the southern Arashiyama region, the westernmost part of the Kyoto Basin famous today for its bamboo groves. Although Matsuo Shrine’s traditional records state it was founded by the Hata, it was actually established on land where people had lived before, with the Hata clan adopting local deities while introducing their own distinct faith. The core of their beliefs was monotheistic, but details will be discussed in another article.
Subsequently, Matsuo Shrine was managed by the Hata clan for a long period, becoming one of the old shrines affected by the Meiji-era prohibition on hereditary shrine management, as previously discussed. This policy eventually expelled the Hata clan from Matsuo Shrine. The western Kyoto basin, centered on Matsuo Shrine, became known as the “main house” (本家, Honke) lineage of the clan. Where there is a main house, there are branch families, and indeed, evidence exists that one lineage of the Hata clan attempted expansion toward the eastern side of Kyoto Basin. Their eastern base became Fushimi Inari Shrine (伏見稲荷大社), famous today for its numerous torii gates, another significant location linked to the Hata.
Yet the layout of Matsuo Shrine in the west and Fushimi Inari Shrine in the east raises questions, as Fushimi Inari is situated in a somewhat remote southeastern location rather than directly east. This reveals a fascinating aspect of pre-Heian Kyoto: the Hata clan’s eastern expansion was thwarted by the people already living around Shimogamo Shrine (下鴨神社), known for its abundant groundwater, making it ideal for settlement, as mentioned previously.
Having failed to expand eastward, the Hata clan turned their attention to reclaiming marshlands, applying their advanced technology extensively. Even today, western Kyoto city retains place names linked to the Hata, such as Uzumasa (太秦), and ancient burial mounds associated with the clan still exist. The river near Arashiyama was originally called “Kadono River” (葛野川), now known as the Oi River (大堰川) upstream near Togetsukyo Bridge, and the Katsura River (桂川) downstream. Historical flooding issues led the Hata to introduce advanced weir (“isegi,” 井堰) technologies to control flooding, vital for rice cultivation. It is suggested that these techniques closely resembled ancient irrigation systems built near Chengdu, Sichuan Province, during China’s Qin Dynasty (秦). The exact origin of the Hata’s name remains unclear, but since the character “秦” matches the ancient Qin Dynasty, some historical connection seems plausible.
The Hata clan, continuously developing Kyoto’s western lands, simultaneously built strong political ties by making substantial donations and offering advanced weaponry and technology to the political center around Nara, gradually gaining influence within the imperial family.
At the time, the frequent relocations around Nara were driven by one specific factor: curses (“tatari,” 祟り). Although the imperial family today symbolizes peaceful continuity, historically, they were embroiled in continuous violent succession disputes involving numerous assassinations and coups, each accompanied by deep-seated fears of retribution from vengeful spirits. Tatari was a key factor in interpreting ancient Japan, manifesting as mysterious illnesses among royals, political turmoil, famine, poor harvests, epidemics, climate disruptions, and incursions from outside. Managing and appeasing these curses was an existential concern. Historically, En no Ozunu (役小角), followed by the famed Heian-era onmyoji Abe no Seimei (安倍晴明), significantly contributed to addressing tatari.
Eventually, amidst relentless assassinations and power struggles, an extraordinarily powerful curse emerged, forcing the imperial family to abandon the prosperous Nara Basin entirely and seek a new capital. This was the critical reason behind the relocation to Heian-kyo in 794. The curse’s power was so formidable that immediate relocation became imperative. It was the Hata clan who stepped in with an offer to manage the massive budget and provide comprehensive magical defenses against curses, significantly elevating their political status as influential power brokers.
In the next article, building upon this discussion, we will delve deeper into the fascinating background behind Heian-kyo’s establishment.